I have been researching the men & women of the City of Hereford who were assessed for Hearth Tax at Ladyday 1664. There were three people with the surname of BANTON - Thomas Banton & sons Thomas & Philip. Thomas Banton jnr was the older son.
If you have any information about the Banton family in the City of Hereford in the 1600s, I would love to hear from you.
THOMAS BANTON snr - 1664 Ladyday Hearth Tax Assessments for City of Hereford - Widemarsh Ward - 1 chargeable hearth
THOMAS BANTON, jnr - Widemarsh Ward - 3 chargeable hearths
PHILLIPP BANTON - Eign Ward - 2 chargeable hearths
A variant spelling of the surname of BANTON was BAMPTON.
Thomas Banton snr & his sons were in the tanning business.
The Banton family of the City of Hereford probably had its origins in the parish of Little Birch. The estate of Thomas Banton snr included land at Little Birch. At a future time, I will search for the last Will & Testament of John Bampton of Little Birch, husbandman, proved in 1640. John Bampton was probably the father of (or close relative of) Thomas Banton snr of the City of Hereford.
Although the proof of it has not been found, Thomas Banton snr was almost certainly a Freeman of the City of Hereford. His elder son (under the name of Thomas Bampton jnr) was admitted & sworn a Freeman on 10 February 1661/2. As he was admitted for wine & thanks & as he was a bachelor at that time, the only reasonable conclusion is that he was admitted as the eldest son of a Freeman. The younger son (under the name of Philip Bampton) was admitted a Freeman during the Mayoralty of William Edwins (elected 1663).
The records show that Thomas jnr & Philip (variously named as Banton & Bampton) were active members of the Company of Tanners - holding, at various times, the offices of Master & Warden. Undoubtedly, Thomas snr had also been active in the Company of Tanners; however, I have not found the records pre-dating 1659.
From various records, it seems that the Banton family lived without Widemarsh Gate but within the parish of All Saints. It is only to be expected that a family in the tanning business would live beyond the City Walls.
The marital status of Thomas Banton snr at 1664 has not been discovered. In fact, his wife's name has not yet been discovered. At the time of making his Will (19 December 1669, proved at the Deanery 30 July 1670), he must have been a widower as there was no mention of his wife.
In 1664, Philip Baton was still a bachelor. On 5 May 1667, he married Alice Bowen at Breinton. By his Will (dated 2# November 1698, proved at Deanery 9 August 1699), Phillipp Banton of the City of Hereford, tanner, bequeathed his dwelling house, tanhouse, gardens & his goods to his wife Alice for the term of her natural life - thereafter his estate was to be divided amongst his three (unnamed) daughters. Philip Banton was buried on 23 November 1698 - All Saints Parish Register.
In 1664, Thomas Banton snr had at least 2 daughters - they being mentioned in his Will. By 1669, daughter Mary had become a married woman - her surname being Davies. In 1669, his younger daughter Martha was still a spinster. Rather curiously, Thomas Banton snr bequeathed, to his daughter Martha, all of his leather & the tools of his trade.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog. If you have any information about the Banton family of the City of Hereford in the 1600s (or of any family who lived in the City of Hereford in the 1600s), I would be pleased to hear from you.
Jean Dobson